Research and analysis

HAIRS risk assessment: squirrel Bornavirus

Qualitative assessment of the risk that variegated squirrel Bornavirus presents to the UK population.

• From: Public Health England
• Published: 8 September 2016
• Last updated: 29 July 2019 — See all updates

Documents

HAIRS risk assessment: novel squirrel Bornavirus

Ref: PHE publications gateway number GW-588

PDF, 450 KB, 17 pages

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Details

Three fatal cases of encephalitis were reported in 2015 which had occurred between 2011 and 2013 in Germany and were associated with a novel Bornavirus species.

A further human case, also a fatal encephalitis, due to the same novel Bornvirus was reported in 2018, and an additional probable case in 2019. This risk assessment was carried out to determine the level of risk to the UK population.

Published 8 September 2016
Last updated 29 July 2019 + show all updates

1. 29 July 2019

   Updated the risk assessment.

2. 12 September 2018

   Updated risk assessment.

3. 20 June 2017

   Updated risk assessment following detection of the virus in a second subfamily of squirrels.

4. 8 September 2016

   First published.